Status of Same-Sex Relationships Nationwide

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Quick Facts

Date

Date: 
07/15/2010

Updated on:

06/03/2013

Contents

Jurisdictions With Marriage Equality

States That Give the Benefits and Responsibilities of Marriage but With a Label of Inferiority Such as Civil Union or Domestic Partnership

States That Give Some or Many Protections With Statewide Non-Marriage Laws Such as Domestic Partnership, Reciprocal Beneficiary or Other Laws

  • Colorado - Designated Beneficiary Agreements Law
  • Hawaii - Reciprocal Beneficiaries Law
  • Maine - Limited Domestic Partnership Law 
  • Maryland - Limited Domestic Partnership Law
  • Vermont - Reciprocal Beneficiaries Law
  • Wisconsin - Limited Domestic Partnership Law

States Without Marriage Equality That Respect Out-of-State Marriages of Same-Sex Couples

  • California (by statute, pre-November 5, 2008, marriages honored as marriages and later out-of-state marriages treated as registered domestic partnerships)
  • Hawaii (out-of-state marriages treated as civil unions)
  • Illinois (out-of-state marriages treated as civil unions)
  • New Jersey (out-of-state marriages treated as civil unions)
  • New Mexico (per Attorney General opinion but not confirmed by court)

States That Give Limited Domestic Partnership Benefits to State Employees (Not Including States Listed in Prior Categories That Provide Broader Protections)

Additional resource:

Examples of States That Provide Benefits to Same-Sex Partners of State Employees

Native American Tribes That Allow Same-Sex Couples to Marry

  • Coquille
  • Squamish
  • Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians

States with Constitutional Amendments Empowering Legislature to Restrict Marriage

Additional resource:

Text of State Laws and Constitutional Amendments Targeting Same-Sex Relationships

States With Constitutional Amendments Restricting Marriage

 

Additional resource: Read the laws themselves.

Text of State Laws and Constitutional Amendments Targeting Same-Sex Relationships